The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-11-19
Cupid's Conquest.


lWriltcn lOf tue DemOcrhIic AuNOcdtc-l
Cupid has scored another victory! This
time the victim is u popular youEg Methodist
Protestant minister. The rarity of such oc-
eurrences invests this case with special inter
est. No excuse, therefore, need be offered if
more than the usual space is asked TO give an
account oft
About year ago spent seek in Amelia
county, Va, with highly esteemed friend,
whom had previously promised to assist in
a meeting at the church of which he is pastor.
had not long been bis guest, before | no.
ticed, in spite Of his efforts to IT, that he
was undergoing the pleasan, agony ofa severe
case Of heart trouble. His symptoms alarm
ingly indicated that he had been deeply
wounded by that eapricious god whose exist
ence young ladies are wont to invoke to es-
cape the loneliness of spinsterhood. There
was the dreamy, absent, far-away look in the
eye; the utter insensibility to all terrestrial
objects save one; the momentary flash of sup
pressed interest when the name of that object
was accidentally mentioned. and many other
signs peculiar in such cases. 1t was plain
that the matter had gone too far for warnings
as to the dangers Of matrimony to have any
salutary effect, so | determined to nurse my
suspicious in silence and await results. My
resolution imposed heavy tax upon my pa
thence but it has at last been rewarded. Soon
after my return from Conference / received u
letter from my aforesaid wounded friend, in
which was an intimation of his purpose to
capitulate to Cupid and an invitation to be
present at Liberty M. p. Church on the fifth
of July, 81, the day fixed for the surrender.
As had never participated in an affair OF this
kind, in which the future welfare of minis
ster was involved, felt no little trepidatiou
in undertaking the part assigned me. But
remembering that it is cowardly TO forsake a
man in trouble, determined to stand by my
friend to the last, and if there had to be a
crisis, to do all in my power TO make 1t as
painless and pleasant as possible. Accord
ingly on the date mentioned, armed with the
NJ. p. ritual, | boarded the cars at Lynch
burg and after few hours ride reached the
point designated for the last act in that ON
Nous succession which had already gradually,
| yet irrevocably sealed the fate Of two bright,
happy lives. Arrived at the cosy little church,
which had been tastefully decorated for the
occasion, looked over the crowded audience
assembled, expecting to find some one sad,
like myself, on account of the approaching
crisis in the life of their pastor. But strange
to say every face wore happy smile and
every eye seemed to dance with glad expec-
fancy. To the only bachelor present, (whon
knew all this seemed peculiarly inconsist.
ent, but determined to maintain my ground
and do my best for my friend, and, taking my
stand within the church, bravely awaited fur
iher developments. | had not long to wait
Soon there was rustic outside the door, fol.
lowed by a craning of necks and suppressed
whispers within, and then, preceded by two gal
lunt ushers, gentlemen and lady marched
quietly, solemnly and yet firmlyup the aisle and
halted at the altar Immediately in front of me.
| at once recognized the quiet, subdued man ii
whom had observed such alarming symp
toms the year before, and by his side the
graceful arrow with which Cupid had done his
fatal work. As ] looked into their faces
softened by the mellow glow of hidden fame
and yet set with the unchanging lines of an
eternal resolve, saw that interference then
would be all in vain. 1t was too plain that
my friend had made an unconditional surren-
der and was meeting his fate with all the cour-
age of genuine hero. Nothing was left fol
me to do, but to afix to the resolve which had
been made by the two before me, the seal OF
my authority as a minister of the Gospel. So
with all the reverence and solemnity could
command and the sincere prayer of my heart
ascending to God for his blessing upon them,
Rev. Smallwood C. 0hrum and Miss Fannie
b. Gregory were pronounced husband and
wife.
To my surprise, however, as well as graft
HcdIlou. UelilS u DdCHeiOT MYSELF anu tueie
fore ignorant Of such things, the last words
ofthe ceremony had hardly beensaid before all
signs of care and concern vanished from the
groom's face and be appeared to be in about
as happy state as is safe for any man. 1t
was quite evident that all Dy fears as to dan
ger in graphing with Cupid, provided you
surrender to him, were groundess. Indeed
| was not long in reaching the conclusion. Judg-
ing from the appearance ofmy clerical brother,
that it must be actually blissful to fall VIC
tim to his consuering charms.
Well. it ought not to be surprising, even to
bachelor, that Bro 0hrum should find such
delight in preserving the arrow which found
the vulnerable point in his heart. He is good
man and deserved good wife, and God has
blessed him with one. Attractive in appear
ance, possessing cultivated mind, of un-
hdoabted purity and an active worker in the
church she will be helpmate in every way
worthy of the husband whose itinerary labors
she has consented to share. We bespeak for
the happy couple bright and prosperous
future. The OFFICIATING MINISTER.